Late Goal Gives Devon Victory In U14 Girls School Match

Devon have entered this competition for the first time at U14 girls level and were placed in a group alongside Dorset, Hampshire and Berkshire.

It was the latter who were first up as opponents with neither side knowing anything about each other.

It was clear inside the first 5 minutes that this was going to be a game of technical quality with both sides looking to move the ball around neatly.

The first big chance of the game fell to Devon’s Ellie Sara who was put through down the left hand side by some excellent build up play. Sara latched on to the pass and opened the angle perfectly to curl a shot towards the far top corner. Agonisingly the ball hit the inside of the post and rolled along the goal line before being cleared.

It wasn’t long though before Sara did get on the score sheet as another clever through ball left her 1v1 with the keeper and this time there was no mistake in putting Devon 1-0 up.

A dominant ten minute spell followed with Devon searching for a second goal. Rosie Train came close with a back post effort before Berkshire levelled the game at the other end with their first meaningful attack into the penalty area. Devon will be disappointed with this goal as there were 3 or 4 opportunities to clear the ball but a failure do so allowed Berkshire to fire low into the net to make the game 1-1.

The remaining 10 minutes of the first half was a very even contest with centre backs Ava Williams and Holly Dunning doing well to repel some dangerous looking Berkshire attacks. Lexie Watts has a shot saved by the keeper but it was Devon who went into the break happier as they regained the lead through a brilliant team goal. Again the attack started down the left with Ocean Latto playing a ball out from defence to Cicely Downs in the left wing position. Downs cut back on to her right foot and swung over a perfect cross for Libby Gimson to control and finish past the advancing keeper with confidence.

The second half continued on from the first half with both teams playing good football, but Berkshire were growing more and more into this game, perhaps without creating the same number of chances as Devon were continuing to do at the other end. Ellen Dixon was crucial in a holding midfield role in breaking up any Berkshire progress.

Not getting a third goal came back to haunt Devon 15 minutes from the end as a ricochet fell nicely to a Berkshire player inside the area who found the net to tie the game up once more at 2-2. For a while Devon were struggling to string together any passing moves and the game looked as though it may end in a draw until 2 minutes before time when some clever play first from Millie Robinson and then from Downs set up Sara on the edge of the penalty area. In typical style, Sara moved the ball on to her right foot and placed an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner to surely win the game for Devon.

There was however one final bit of drama as a mix up in defence resulted in a penalty being awarded to Berkshire. The kick though was high and over the bar and was the last action of the game as referee Jason Haywood blew the final whistle to end a cracking game, with Devon taking the 3-2 victory.

Player of the match was Libby Gimson.

Devon are in action again this Monday 5th at home to Dorset Schools FA at Coach Road, kicking off at 6:30pm.